Suphanburi FC 0, Pattaya United 3
Pattaya United visited a damp Suphanburi last Saturday, August 5, for their last league fixture before the five week international break. On the previous Wednesday, United’s recent unbeaten run had come to an end after being knocked out of the FA Cup by PTT Rayong, losing a dull encounter 1-0. However, the resting of 7 players had indicated that the management had prioritized this league fixture as the Dolphins were hunting their 16th point from the last 18 available.
The start of the game was delayed for 2 hours as a result of heavy storms and the game got under way on a water-logged pitch. Any league game away from home is no easy task but Pattaya started on the front foot and it was no surprise when in the 4th minute Milos Stojanovic opened the scoring with a smart header from a beautifully delivered Suphanan Bureerat inswinging corner kick.
This was the Serbian’s tenth league goal of the season and there is no doubt he is looking even more dangerous now that he has been joined in attack by his fellow countryman Aleksandr Jevtic. The pair were a constant threat to the home side’s defence all evening.
United coped far better than Suphanburi with the sodden playing conditions and as the game progressed, the Dolphins went from strength to strength. In the 21st minute a fast break from the dangerous Picha U-Tra led to a desperate tackle that saw the ball spinning into the bottom corner of the Suphanburi net and Pattaya went into half time good value for their 2-0 lead.
In the second half the home side pressed forward to try and reduce the arrears, however Pattaya are now a well-organized defensive unit and there were few scares as the visitors protected their 2-0 lead. In fact Pattaya got their third goal of the evening when a towering header from Lee Won-Young via a Kim Taeyeon free-kick found the net.
This fifth victory from the last six league games sees Pattaya climbing to eighth in the table. It is a pity that everyone now has to wait until September 10 to next see Pattaya United back in league action, but what a game that should be as the home side will be welcoming Bangkok United to the Dolphins Stadium. With the visitors currently third in the table this will be a good test to see how far Pattaya have come.
